Atkins diet warning for teenagers

Teenage followers of the Atkins diet risk harming their minds and bodies.

Nutritionists are warning that strict dieters are starving their brains of much- needed glucose, impairing their brain functions and stunting their growth.

And parents following the diet are accused of being "irresponsible" for setting a bad example to their children.

New research into Atkins was carried out by Professor Bruce Rengers at Saint Louis University.

He claims children on low-carbohydrate diets are starving themselves of critical nutrients, which may take a serious health toll on their physical and intellectual development.

He said: "If I were a parent, I'd want to give my kid every health advantage I could. I wouldn't risk it by putting my child on a lowcarbohydrate diet."

Professor Rengers believes a deficit of glucose, which is the brain's prefer red source of energy, leads to a dulling effect on the brain as the body is forced to create energy by breaking down body fat.

"Low-carb diets work by fooling the body to think it's starving. If you're putting a kid into a starvation situation, they don't grow as well and they are not as likely to do well in school."

Steve Bloomsfield, spokesman for the Eating Disorders Association, said: "Parents are a big part of the problem. If they are on a succession of different diets, what kind of message does that send out to children?

"Along with the media images of thin people as being 'cool', and the barrage of junk food advertising, I think children are incredibly confused."

A recent survey discovered 92 per cent of girls aged between 10 and 19 are unhappy with their bodies.

But experts claim any kind of dieting for undertwenties is inadvisable.

Nutritionist Natalie Savona said: "There is also the whole issue of emotional problems. If a child is dieting at 16, they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of yo-yo dieting."